Steve Kerr paced a crucial fourth-quarter run with eight points
and Michael Jordan scored 24 as the Chicago Bulls struggled at
home before clinching their 14th straight postseason appearance
with a 98-92 victory over the Vancouver Grizzlies.

The Bulls completed the first leg of their quest for a third
straight championship, becoming the first Eastern Conference
club secure a berth. Chicago has won 15 of its last 17 games and
is three games ahead of second-place Indiana in the Central
Division.

Vancouver's Pete Chilcutt made it 81-81 with a free throw with
7:11 remaining and, after the teams traded baskets, Kerr
answered with a 20-footer to put the Bulls ahead for good. He
capped the 13-4 spurt with a pair of free throws with 46 seconds
to play for a 96-87 advantage.

Bryant Reeves scored 30 points and Shareef Abdur-Rahim added 21
for the Grizzlies, who dropped their 12th straight road game and
remained winless in six meetings with Chicago.

"I'm not getting used to losing," Reeves said. "That's the hard
part for us, we've lost a lot of games and I know this team has
a lot of character. We come out and fight every night. You do
have to look at the positive things and move on, but we do have
to win a game like this once in a while."

Kerr led the Bulls' bench with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
Jordan, who recovered for 11 points in the second quarter after
being shut out the first 12 minutes, sat out the first six
minutes of the final quarter in an attempt to rest for Chicago's
upcoming schedule.

The Bulls play three games in a four-game stretch beginning with
Toronto on Sunday.

"It was a very difficult game for us tonight," said Bulls
forward Toni Kukoc, who had 16 points and 11 rebounds.
"Vancouver kept us off the boards. I think we were lucky to
win."

Scottie Pippen netted 13 points for Chicago, which shot 53
percent (33-of-62) from the field but was outrebounded, 43-33. A
prime reason for the disparity on the boards was that league
leader Dennis Rodman was held to four in just 15 minutes.

"I missed practice (Thursday)," admitted Rodman. "When you miss
practice you don't play. No excuses, I just didn't show up.
Tonight's game was a waste of time, I'd just as soon have stayed
home and played (video games) than played a team like Vancouver.

"The playoffs can't come soon enough for us, bro," he added.

Joe Kleine started in the pivot for Rodman, totaling two points
and one rebound in 18 minutes.

"I wanted to try Joe Kleine in the middle. We need to find out
about our personnel going into our playoffs," said Chicago coach
Phil Jackson. "Dennis hasn't had a lot of energy in the last
couple of days. He missed the autograph seesion yesterday at
practice but then again, he wasn't the only one. He also
complained about tendinitis in his keees."

Kerr gave the Bulls a 77-70 lead 19 seconds into the fourth
quarter that faded as Vancouver chipped away. Chicago's Bill
Wennington sank a 15-footer, making it 79-73, but the Grizzlies
pulled even with an 8-2 burst.

But it was Kerr again, nailing the jumper to start the winning
run with 6:02 to go. Jordan pumped in an 18-footer and after
Reeves sliced the margin in half with a long basket, Kerr and
Jordan answered with key jumpers as the Bulls opened a 91-85
advantage.